Device for softening and dispensing an edible spread



July 27, 1965 P. s. CHAMBLEE DEVICE FOR SOFTENING AND DISPENSING AN EDIBLE SPREAD Filed April 10, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. F4 #1 (WA/V5117? ATTORNEYS.

July 27, 1965 P. G. CHAMBLEE I DEVICE FOR SOFTENING'AND DISPENSING AN EDIBLE SPREAD Filed April 10, 1963 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 tlflllfd'lllt If n n I L. s Z76. 7

INVENTOR. P404 6. C/MMEAEE ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent DEVEQE BEER tlFTENENG ANEE Dl lFEN JG This invention relates to a device for softening and dispensing an edible spread and relates more particularly to a device for heating and thereby softening butter or the like to render the same spreadable and readily dispensible on a piece of toast or bread or the like.

A primary object of the instant invention is the provision of a device for softening butter or the like adapted to receive a supply of the same such as a conventional quartenpound stick thereof and softening or melting 'a portion of the stick while maintaining a reservoir of the soften-ed butter for immediate dispensing.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a device of the type described which may be easily and quickly dissembled for cleaning the various elements.

A further obiect of the instant invention is to provide a spreader or dispensing device for softening and storing an edible spread such as butter or the like which may be placed in the refrigerator when not in use to prevent spoilage of the spread.

A still urther object of this invention is to provide a bracket means for removably supporting the device of the instant invention.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a softening and dispens ng device which is thermostatically controlled to facilitate maintaining the softened spread at a constant temperature.

Another obiect of the instant invention is the provision of a particular thermostatic means to facilitate controlling the heating means for a device such as the softening and dispensing device of the instant invention.

Uther and further objects reside in the combination of elements, arrangement of parts, and features of construction.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and as shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FlGURE l is a front elevational view of the device of the instant invention as mounted on a wall bracket, with certain hidden parts beinu shown in dotted lines;

PZGURE 2 is a top plan view thereof;

3 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional View through the softening and dispensing device of this invention taken substantially on line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially on line tl of FIGURE 3;

FEGURE 5 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 55 of FIGURE 1, With parts broken away for illustrative convenience;

FllGURE 6 is a side elevational View of the device of the instant invention, with parts broken away for illustrative clarity;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through a thermostatic means for particular use with the instant softening and dispensing device taken substantially on line 7-? of HGURE 3, with parts broken away;

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line of FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 9-4 of FIGURE 7.

Like reference characters refer to like parts through out the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, the softening and dispensing device of the instant invention is designated "Ice generally by the reference numeral lit? and is shown as removably mountable on a bracket means 12 having a vertically extending element 14 securable to a supporting surface such as the wall it by screws or the like 18 and a horizontally disposed element 2% having a concave portion 22 extending beneath, and spaced from, the lower end of t. e device iii to catch any excess butter or the like therefrom. A mounting lug 24 is secured to the vertically disposed element 14 and has a shaft member 26 and a head member 28 secured to the shaft member 26 in spaced relationship to the verticall disposed element The outer housing 3t) has an aperture 32 defined herein having an enlarged portion 3 's dimensioned to receive the head member 28 of the mounting lug 24 and a vertically disposed slotted portion 36 dimensioned to receive the shaft member 26 thereof for removably mounting the device 19 on the bracket means 12.

It is to be understood that a self-supporting bracket means (not shown) with legs or the like to set on a supporting surface and maintain the device it? in spaced relation thereto can be substituted for the bracket means shown.

The device to comprises basically the outer housing 30 having an upuer end 32 removably receiving a container means or inner housing 3 and a lower end 36 removably receiving a reservoir means or sprea er head a dispensing means including a door member it: hingedly secured at to the lower end of the outer housing 315 and normally biased into sealing engagement with the open lower end of the reservoir means 33, an actuating means id for moving the door member ii) to an open position such as shown in dotted lines at 40 in FIGURE 3, a heating means 48 thermally engaging at least the lower portion of the container means 34 and substantially all of the reservoir means 38, and a thermostatic means Sti operatively connected to the heating means 43 for maintaining the softened spread at a predetermined temperature.

The container means 34 has an outstanding rib 51 at its upper end and is tapered at its lower end 52 to form a substantially cylindrical externally threaded element 54 and receives a cap member 56 having a downwardly depending peripheral flange 58 over its upper end, oppositely disposed bayonet connections as being provided for allowing the cap member $6 to be quickly and easily removed and replaced. A downwardly depending disc shown in dotted lines at 62 in FlGURE 3 may be secured by a compression spring 64 to the cap member 56 to exert a constant pressure behind the supply of edible spread within the container means 34. The chamber as defined interiorly of the container means 34 may be of any desired shape, the substantially cylindrical design shown in the drawings being illustrative. it is preferably dimensioned to receive a conventional one-quarter pound stick of butter or the like normally formed into an elongated hexahedron such as shown in dotted lines at 68 in FIGURES 3 and 5 and may be substantially rectangular in cross section to more closely engage the stick of spread ed. as desired.

The reservoir means 3% has an upper end which is preferably slightly flared as at 72 and internally threaded to receive the cylindrical element of the container means 3- 5 in threadable engagement. The flared portion 72 facilitates assembling and dissembling these elements. The lower end of the reservoir means 33 is elongated as seen particularly in FIGURE 4 to assist in dispensing the softened spread over a relatively wide area for example, as might be advantageous in greasing baking pans or buttering toast, and has an outstanding lip 7 4 over a portion of its periphery for engaging the lower end 36 of the outer housing 3% during the assem ly procedure.

3 A portion of the reservoir means 355 is indented as at '76 to accommodate a part of the means for actuating the door member 49 and moving it to its opened position 4h.

The actuating means 436 comprises an elongated rod member 'iii having a right angular bottom end tit? pivotally secured in an apertured lug d2 fixed interiorly of the door member dd adjacent the hinge means 42. The rod member it; is slidingly secured to the interior of the outer housing 3% by a plurality of apertured brackets ti t and its upper end is adjustably secured by a set screw 35 through an eye member $7 to a button means 86 exteriorly of the outer housing 30 through an elongated slot A spring means 9% circumscribes the rod member 78 and presses against an outstanding washer member 92 fled thereto to normally urge the button means as to its upper position in the elongated slot thereby normally rnaintaining the door member 4th in sealing engagem nt with theopen lower end 44 of the reservoir means This relationship can be adjusted through the set screw 85. Any additional means such as a gasket or the like (not shown) or a ball joint may be provided interiorly of the door member or on the lower end of the reservoir means 353 to insure a liquid-tight contact between these members in closed position.

The heating means is preferably a coiled resistance wire or the like having one end 94 passing through the thermostatic means Sit and operatively securedat 94 to one contact of a male jack and its other end 98 conductively secured to the other Contact thereof. A removable plug means lltltl has a female member 192 conductively engageable with the male jack as and is adapted to be plugged into a standard electrical outlet.

The annular space 1M defined between the inner Wall of the outer housing S-tl and the outer wall of the container means is substantially filled with any conventional insulating materail such as asbestos or glass wool or the like to limit the heat transmitted to the outer housing 3% from the heating means 48. The insulating material tee is retained in place by a screen member 1th; secured to a cylindrical sleeve iltl fixed to the upper end 32 of the outer housing 3%, and to a brace member 112 fixed to the lower end 36 of the outer housing 3% the latter element preferably dimensioned to receive and assist in positioning the reservoir means 3%. Interior partitions are provided for preventing the insulating material me from contacting the actuating means 46, the thermostatic means 543 and from blocking the mounting aperture 32. Also, access is provided to set screw 85.

The thermostatic means 50 preferably comprise a bimetallic coil ll having an inner end secured to a mounting shaft tile on the partition wall 11% which is mounted by tabs 12b or the like in any convenient location on the outer housing 3%. A free end 129 of the coil 114 has a nonconductive element 122 secured thereto and carrying a first conductive member 124- having a terminal means 126 for attaching thereto the end 94 of the conductor wire extending from the heating means 48, and a first contact point 128. A second conductive member 13% is secured to the partition wall 138 and has a second terminal means 132 for attaching the end 94 of the conductor wire leading to the male jack 96. A second contact point 134 is preferably threadably secured in the second conductive member ilIill and is longitudinally adjust able through an opening 136 defined in the partition Wall 111.8 to space its end a predetermined distance from the first contact point 128. The coil til-.4 includes an inner elongated strip 13% of a first metallic material and an outer elongated strip Mil of a second metallic material secured thereto and having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially dilferent from the first strip 138. A plurality of apertures 142 are provided in the partition 118 to facilitate maintaining the temperature therewithin similar to the temperature of the interior of the outer housing 30. It is to be understood that if found necessary the thermostatic means Stl may be mounted closer to the reservoir 4 means 33 so that it is more closely susceptible to changes of temperature thercwithin. As the temperature of the bimetallic coil lift i is increased the variance in the coefficients of thermal expansion of the inner strip 133 which may be of a material such as steel or the like and the outer strip reewhich may be of a material such as brass or the like will cause the free end 1219 to move in a substantially clockwise direction as seen in FIGURE 7 thereby spacing the contacts i128, and breaking the circuit between the conductor wires and 94/ to shut off the heating means 43. As the temperature cools in the vicinity of the coil lid tie free end moves counterclockwise until the contact points i223, 134 are again engaged to close the circuit and energize the heating means The use and operation of the device of the instant invention will now be apparent. A stick of butter or the like 2% is inserted through the top of the container in ans and tie cap member as is then engaged therewith. The container means is slidingly received through the upper end of the outer housing 3% and the reservoir means is slidingly received through the lower end of the of the outer housing 3% with the door member open to the position 40 and these elements are threadably engaged at 54, '72. The plug means Mitt is conductively secured to the iacl and is plugged into a remote source of electrical energy to thereby actuate the heating means As the lower end of the stick of butter or like as is softened it fiows downwardly through the cylindrical element 54 into the reservoir means 323 where it is raintaincd at a constant temperature and consistency by the thermostatic means Whenever desired, a piece of toast or the like is held horizontally beneath the door member 4th and the actuating means 43-6 is utilized to open the door member 4d slightly by pressing downwardly on the button means as thereby dispensing a quantity of softened spread. As soon as the button means is released the spring means Qtl will automatically return the same to its upward position thereby closing the door memher 4% and sealing the reservoir means 38. When the device is no longer needed it may be easily removed from the bracket means l2 and the female plug M2 may be disengaged from the jack as so that the entire device to may be refrigerated. Cleaning of the device Jill is relatively simple since the reservoir means 33 and the con tainer means 34 may be easily and quickly disengaged and removed from the outer housing 3% to be washed While the remainder of the device it) including all of the electrical' components require little or no cleaning.

It is to be understood that'the device of the instant invention may be utilized commercially in a restaurant to provide a constant supply of softe ed butter or the like easily and quickly dispensed onto toast or rolls, readily refrigerated overnight and easily cleaned. Likewise, the softening and dispensing device of the instant invention may be readily utilized in a home or elsewhere.

it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved softening and dispensing device which satisfies all the advantages of the prior art and others including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept and since many modifications may be made of the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A device for softening and dispensing an edible spread comprising a container means having an upper end, a lower end, and a peripheral wall connecting said upper and lower ends and defining an interior chamber dimensioned to receive a quantity of spread, reservoir means having an upper end in communication with said chamber for receiving softened spread, and an open l wcr end, dispensing means including a door member normally biased into a closed position wherein it is in sealing engagement with said open lower end of said reservoir means, an actuating means for moving said door member to an open position wherein softened spread may e dispensed through said open lower end of said reservoir means, heating means thermally enga ing at least a lower portion of said container means for softening said spread and substantially all of said reservoir means for maintaining said spread in softened condition, an outer housing iaving an upper end, a lower end and a peripheral wall connecting said upper and lower ends and defining an upper cavity for removably receiving said container means and a lower cavity for removably receiving said reservoir means, said lower end of said container rneans tapering to for i an externally threaded substantially cylindrical element, said upper end of said reservoir means being threaded to receive said cylindrical element, said upper end of said reservoir having a flared portion to facilitate the threaded engagement of said container means and said reservoir means.

2. A structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said door member is liingedly secured to said lower end of said housing and said actuating means includes a rod member having two ends and being slidingly secured interiorly of said outer housing, one end of said rod member being pivotally secured internally of said door meniher, and button means fixed to the oth r end of said rod member and slidingly secured to said outer housing, said button means being accessible from the exterior of said outer housing.

3. A structure in accordance with claim 2 wherein spring means are operatively connected to said rod memher to normally urge the same against sliding movement of said button means thereby biasing said door member into sealing engagement with said open lower end of said reservoir rneans.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 676,130 6/01 Goodfellow 62400 X 1,381,341 6/21 Royster 62-400 1,444,262 2/23 Morrison 22213l 1,497,716 6/24 Fawcett.

1,851,794 3/32 Wilson 222--l31 1,933,517 10/33 Tucker 222-181 X 2,533,282 12/50 ()snian 222-505 K 2,699,966 9/52 Henry 222-185 X 2,702,655 2/55 Lopata 222185 X 2,724,629 11/55 Barnes 20()l38.1 3,091,233 5/63 Dunlap 126-343.5

RAFHAEL lvi. LUPO, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR SOFTENING AND DISPENSING AN EDIBLE SPREAD COMPRISING A CONTAINER MEANS HAVING AN UPPER END, A LOWER END, AND A PERIPHERAL WALL CONNECTING SAID UPPER AND LOWER ENDS AND DEFINING AN INTERIOR CHAMBER DIMENSIONED TO RECEIVE A QUANTITY OF SPREAD, RESERVOIR MEANS HAVING AN UPPER END IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CHAMBER FOR RECEIVING SOFTENED SPREAD, AND AN OPEN LOWER END, DISPENSING MEANS INCLUDING A DOOR MEMBER NORMALLY BIASED INTO A CLOSED POSITION WHEREIN IT IS IN SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID OPEN LOWER END OF SAID RESERVOIR MEANS, AN ACTUATING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID DOOR MEMBER TO AN OPEN POSITION WHEREIN SOFTENED SPREAD MAY BE DISPENSED THROUGH SAID OPEN LOWER END OF SAID RESERVOIR MEANS, HEATING MEANS THERMALLY ENGAGING AT LEAST A LOWER PORTION OF SAID CONTAINER MEANS FOR SOFTENING SAID SPREAD AND SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF SAID RESERVOIR MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SAID SPREAD IN SOFTENED CONDITION, AN OUTER HOUSING HAVING AN UPPER END, A LOWER END AND A PERIPHERAL WALL CONNECTING SAID UPPER AND LOWER ENDS AND DEFINING AN UPPER CAVITY FOR REMOVABLY RECEIVING SAID CONTAINER MEANS AND A LOWER CAVITY FOR REMOVABLY RECEIVING SAID RESERVOIR MEANS, SAID LOWER END OF SAID CONTAINER MEANS TAPERING TO FORM AN EXTERNALLY THREADED SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL ELEMENT, SAID UPPER END OF SAID RESERVOIR MEANS BEING THREADED TO RECEIVE SAID CYLINDRICAL ELEMENT, SAID UPPER END OF SAID RESERVOIR HAVING A FLARED PORTION TO FACILITATE THE THREADED ENGAGEMENT OF SAID CONTAINER MEANS AND SAID RESERVOIR MEANS. 